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I'm beginning to lay track for my new layout and have wiring questions on switches, sidings and track. I'd like to get it right the first time around.  

Ross Switches (powered separately):

1) do all 3 legs of a switch, except those going to a siding/spur, get power to them ? 

2) are sidings/spurs insulated from the mainline, allowing control by either the 4th handle from a ZW-L, or, a toggle switch ?

 

Atlas 3 rail Track:

1) should the common rail that transmits the DCS signal always be the same, i.e, the outside rail in an around the wall layout ?  

2) when crossing from 1 mainline to another, should that same outside rail be the common ?  

 

Layout - track plan attached:

1) All track powered by ZW-L.  Layout is around the wall with a center peninsula containing a reverse loop and passing siding.

2) How should those peninsula tracks be wired ? Should the reverse loop (outside track) be wired as one of the mainlines & the siding wired 

    like one of the other sidings ?  

 

Thanks and appreciate some advice.

Mike

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Ross Switches (powered separately):

1) do all 3 legs of a switch, except those going to a siding/spur, get power to them ?  Power to the track rails would normally be picked up from connecting tracks.  For non derailing see Ross website for wiring

2) are sidings/spurs insulated from the mainline, allowing control by either the 4th handle from a ZW-L, or, a toggle switch ?  Yes, they may be if you wish.

 

Atlas 3 rail Track:

1) should the common rail that transmits the DCS signal always be the same, i.e, the outside rail in an around the wall layout ?  The DCS signal always travels on the CENTER rail/variable voltage wire.  Lionel's command control signal travels on the Outside rails/Common wire.

2) when crossing from 1 mainline to another, should that same outside rail be the common ?  Outside rails are all common to each other on one layout.

 

Layout - track plan attached:

1) All track powered by ZW-L.  Layout is around the wall with a center peninsula containing a reverse loop and passing siding.  It depends on the consists you will be running.

2) How should those peninsula tracks be wired ? Should the reverse loop (outside track) be wired as one of the mainlines & the siding wired 

    like one of the other sidings ?  That would work.

Group your tracks by TIU Outputs.  (one Block of track per TIU output)

EXAMPLE:

These Run Room tracks are blocked so I could (if I wished) run 4 passenger trains and Black main and 4 passenger trains on Red main at the same time.

These track layout mains in my Run Room are fed with TIU 1 black north, TIU 2 black south, TIU 3 red north, and TIU 4 red south.  The loops are halved base on track length with TIUs in center.  North is to the left.  Theoretically each TIU output would handle 2 passenger trains.

The blue tracks are all switched with single pole toggle switches and fed with 2 TIU outputs in north and south blocks.

 

The Run Room uses Buss Wiring which works better with very large layouts.

 

5-Main5

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
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